This season, Toronto Fashion Week's Autumn/Winter 2016 runway was home to Canada's first-ever 'CF Style Instapit' -- exclusive media pit seating reserved for some of the city's most recognized style influencers. Occupied by a rotation of social media stars, including Toronto's very own Jodi Blackburn, Nathalie Martin and Tee Go, the immersive photo pit was hosted in partnership by Cadillac Fairview's CF Toronto Eaton Centre and CF Sherway Gardens.
Recognizing the growing power of fashion influencers on Instagram, Cadillac Fairview borrowed its inspiration from New York Fashion Week alumni Tommy Hilfiger, whose Spring/Summer 2016 presentation featured a similar seating set-up. "At Cadillac Fairview, we live and breathe fashion so taking part in Toronto Fashion Week felt like a natural fit. As proud sponsors of TFW, we wanted to create an entirely new experience for some of the top social influencers in the city," said Craig Flannagan, the brand's VP of Consumer Marketing when describing the vision behind this exciting project.
When asked about where he sees his industry heading, Flannagan suggests that fashion's reliance on digital interaction is strongly influencing sales and describes that "influencers are being sought out as a credible third-party resource by consumers looking to be inspired by the latest fashion trends."
Fashion Influencer Photo Pits
Cadillac Fairview's CF Style Instapit Catered to Bloggers
Trend Themes
1. Fashion Influencer Power - The growing power of fashion influencers on platforms like Instagram presents opportunities for brands to collaborate with them to reach a wider audience.
2. Immersive Marketing Experiences - Creating immersive photo pit experiences for influencers at fashion events allows brands to generate buzz and connect with their target audience in a unique way.
3. Fashion's Digital Transformation - The increasing reliance on digital interaction in the fashion industry is transforming the way brands connect with consumers and market their products.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Retail - Collaborating with fashion influencers can help retailers drive sales and increase brand awareness.
2. Event Marketing - Creating immersive photo pit experiences for influencers at events can be a valuable marketing strategy for brands in various industries.
3. Digital Marketing - Fashion's digital transformation presents opportunities for marketers to leverage influencers and digital platforms to promote fashion trends.